Illuminated sign of the Ariston Theatre in Sanremo

Premio Tenco 2026

Name: Premio Tenco 2026
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-24
Location: Teatro Ariston

Italy’s songwriting festival in Sanremo, 20–24 October 2026: programme, award winners, tickets and how to get to the Ariston theatre.

Illuminated sign of the Ariston Theatre in Sanremo

When: 20–24 October 2026
Times: Evening concerts at the Ariston on 22, 23 and 24 October at 9pm; side events from the 20th
Where: Teatro AristonSanremo
Admission: One evening €45–75, 3-evening pass €90–180 (+ booking fee)
Organiser: Club Tenco

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Dates and times may change: always check the official website.

If the Sanremo Festival is the city’s showcase for Italian pop, the Premio Tenco is its home of the singer-songwriter. From 20 to 24 October 2026 Sanremo hosts the 49th edition of this songwriting festival, with three evening concerts at the Teatro Ariston on 22, 23 and 24 October at 9pm and, in the days before, concerts, talks and an exhibition between the Casino and the old town, La Pigna. This year’s title is “Dio è morto” (God is dead), after the Francesco Guccini song, and the edition is dedicated to Sergio Secondiano Sacchi.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on October 10, 2026·4 min read

The 2026 programme

Tuesday 20 October: Tenco Off

The first Tenco Off takes place in the Ariston’s Sala Roof 3: two documentaries at 4pm and 6pm, on Paolo Benvegnù and Ernesto Bassignano, and “Ancora in Assemblea” at 9pm. Entry is free while seats last.

Wednesday 21 October

In the morning, a masterclass for schools on Franco Battiato. At 5pm an exhibition on Quino, the creator of Mafalda, opens in La Pigna and runs until 31 October. In the evening, at 9pm at the Casino’s Teatro dell’Opera, Paola Turci sings with the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra.

Thursday 22 October: the Targhe evening

The first evening at the Ariston, hosted by Neri Marcorè, is the one of the Targhe Tenco, the awards for the best Italian records of the year. In the afternoon there are round tables at the Club’s headquarters, and at 6pm a concert by Claudia Crabuzza in La Pigna.

Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October

The other two evenings at the Ariston are hosted by Chiara Buratti (Friday) and Silvia Boschero (Saturday), with talks and theatre shows in La Pigna in the afternoons. The full programme is on the Club Tenco website.

Winners and guests

The 2026 Targhe Tenco went to Caparezza for the album “Orbit Orbit”, Carmen Consoli for “Amuri Luci” (dialect album), Piji for best debut, Avincola as interpreter, Emma Nolde for the song “Quello che deve essere sarà” and the tribute project “80 Buon compleanno Ivan”. The lifetime Premi Tenco go to Manuel Agnelli and Afterhours, Enzo Avitabile, Frankie Hi-NRG MC, Max Manfredi and Paola Turci.

Announced guests include Fabri Fibra, Anastasio, Giulia Mei, Claudia Crabuzza and newcomers Francamente, Sara Gioielli, Santamarea and Satantango. The line-up for each evening has not been published yet.

Tickets and prices

One evening: stalls premium €75, stalls €60, gallery €45
Pass for all three evenings: €180, €123, €90
Where to buy: online on LiveTicket via the Club website, or at the Ariston box office (+39 0184 506060)
Box office hours: daily 5–9pm, Saturdays also 10am–1pm
Discounts: under-25s get 15% off the pass, at the box office only

A booking fee is added. Tickets are not personal and can be passed on, but not refunded. Minors must be accompanied by an adult and need a ticket. Details are on the Club Tenco tickets page. All shows are in Italian.

Getting to the Teatro Ariston

The Ariston is on Via Matteotti, the pedestrian shopping street in the centre of Sanremo, within walking distance of the railway station on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line. By car, leave the A10 motorway at Sanremo; on show nights the centre is busy, so head for a pay car park and arrive early: see our guide to parking in Sanremo. La Pigna, where the afternoon events take place, is the old town on the hill behind the theatre.

Who was Luigi Tenco?

Luigi Tenco, a singer-songwriter of the Genoese school born in Cassine in 1938, died in Sanremo in January 1967 during the Festival. In 1972 Amilcare Rambaldi founded the Club Tenco in Sanremo to champion songwriting; the festival has been held every year since 1974. The Premio Tenco honours the career of Italian and international artists, while the Targhe Tenco, created in 1984, reward the year’s records through the votes of more than two hundred music journalists. For the city’s other big music week, see our page on the Sanremo Festival.

Where it takes place

The event takes place in Sanremo (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera dei Fiori).

Boundaries: ISTAT, Natural Earth · Interactive map →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Premio Tenco 2026

When is the Premio Tenco 2026?

The evening concerts at the Teatro Ariston are on Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026 at 9pm. Side events start on Tuesday 20 with the Tenco Off.

How much are tickets?

One evening costs from €45 (gallery) to €75 (premium stalls), the three-evening pass from €90 to €180, plus a booking fee. Buy them online on LiveTicket or at the Ariston box office.

Who receives the 2026 awards?

The lifetime Premi Tenco go to Manuel Agnelli and Afterhours, Enzo Avitabile, Frankie Hi-NRG MC, Max Manfredi and Paola Turci; the Targhe to Caparezza, Carmen Consoli, Piji, Avincola, Emma Nolde and the project “80 Buon compleanno Ivan”.

Are there free events?

Yes, the Tenco Off on Tuesday 20 October in the Ariston’s Sala Roof 3 is free while seats last.

What is the difference between the Premio Tenco and the Targhe Tenco?

The Premio Tenco honours an artist’s career; the Targhe Tenco reward the best records of the past year in six categories, voted by a jury of journalists.

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